[Research] remote control cockroaches with wireless signal

In the field of robotics, to actually admit that despite trying many, we are also very difficult to perfectly mimic some functions of a living organism. Besides, the investment costs incurred to research such a robot is also very high. Therefore, many scientists think the other direction, instead of making the robots, their approach towards biobot, ie trying to control living creatures according to their own. And indeed, this approach proved to be very promising when recently, the scientists at the University of North Carolina (North Carolina State University - NCSU) has successfully developed a new technique that allows to use electronic communication to remote control cockroaches is very accurate but very cheap compared to manufacturing robots.Developed by Tahmid Latif, a graduate student at NCSU, and Professor Alper Bozkurt, the new interrupt controller works by attaching a chip SoC (system-on-chip) contains a transmitter and receiver signal Cheap wire available on the market on the back of a simplified (Madagascar species). Small size and lightweight at only 0.7 grams, this chip also contains a microcontroller to monitor the communication between the electrodes implanted under the skin and tissues of cockroaches to avoid the control of destruction of nerve cells them. In addition, the microcontroller is connected to two antennae and a special organ called cerci in the lower abdomen of cockroaches. After attaching all the electronics on the back of cockroaches, all you need to do next is sitting remotely and send wireless commands to the chip, and therefore cockroach control.Underlying principle, the scientists said they took advantage of cerci parts. This is the act of detecting motion in the air to signal the interrupt can know the enemy is approaching. By using a cable with cerci, scientists stimulated this part makes cockroaches frightened and ran away.Nervous system of the cockroach abdominal cerci at the rearMotion problem has been solved, the remaining problem is to control the direction they run. By injecting a small amount of charge on the nerve cells indirectly through one two antennae (connected with parts mounted on the back), the scientists make them think that the beard of his encounter obstructions should be avoided, and so we turn in the opposite direction (if injected into the left beard will turn right and vice versa).To demonstrate, the scientists have returned to one of their experiments, you can watch this very interesting video below. This study was also presented at the conference "Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine & Biology Society" 34 th in the United States. You can download the PDF of the study here.Applications, this research opens a new direction for the use of cyber smart sensors get wedged into areas difficult to penetrate or malicious, such as searching for victims in case of collapse or earthquakes. This method really proved both effective and cheap, just simpler than the method of manufacture / use of traditional robot.It is known that, in a previous work, Prof. Bozkurt has also developed a similar manner to control the moth species using electronic devices implanted under the skin.Please see relevant videos (clips L is left, R is right):Source: NCSU